ian wrote on Jun 13
th, 2013 at 9:41pm:
Any non citizen entering australian territory without a vaid visa is committing a crime.
Totally irrelevant.
Criminals are not exempt from claiming asylum.
Everybody has the right to claim asylum, no matter how many crimes they may have committed. Whether it be murder, theft, or anything else: a criminal record does not exempt someone from claiming asylum.
There's a good chance they won't be granted refugee status, sure: but there is absolutely nothing stopping them from claiming asylum.
Don't fall into the trap of confusing 'asylum seekers' and 'refugees'.
Asylum seekers are not immigrants, thus they are not "illegal immigrants" (it's just impossible).
And, there is no such thing as an "illegal asylum seeker".
Lessons concluded for today.
Good evening.